WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – With just two months until Election Day, the Justice Department is accusing Russia of trying to influence voters.
Three different U.S. government agencies are involved to crack down on what they say is an election interference campaign from the highest levels of the Russian government.
“A covert campaign to interfere and influence the outcome of our country’s elections,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Attorney General Merrick Garland accuses Russia of launching new efforts to meddle in the 2024 U.S. election and says people in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle are leading them.
“A goal of the campaign is securing Russia’s preferred outcome in the election,” said Garland.
The Justice Department is criminally charging two employees of RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet.
Garland says they were part of a secret $10 million scheme that used a Tennessee based company to hire American social media influencers to post Russian disinformation and propaganda.
“Bolster pro-Russian policies and interests, and influence voters in the United States,” said Garland.
Separately, the Justice Department seized control of 32 internet domains designed to look like major U.S. news sites like the Washington Post and Fox News.
FBI Director Christopher Wray says they were filled with fake Russian stories and spread online by fake social media profiles.
“To trick Americans into unwittingly consuming Russian propaganda,” said Wray.
The Treasury and State departments are also taking action. State Spokesperson Matthew Miller says the U.S. will restrict visas for anyone connected to the election interference campaigns.
“We will not tolerate foreign malign actors intentionally interfering and undermining free and fair elections,” said Miller.
The Treasury Department is sanctioning several Russian individuals and companies in response to these campaigns.
